Caves of Mytilinioi – Ancient Quarries

Mount Kerkis, or Kerketeus, dominates Samos’s western part with its highest peak, Vigla (1,434 m), making it the island’s tallest mountain and the Aegean’s second highest after Saos on Samothrace. With its rugged, rocky morphology and demanding trails, Kerkis is a destination requiring caution, but it rewards the visitor with stunning views of the Aegean and the surrounding islands. Its slopes and caves bring to life memories and stories: Pythagoras lived here, and one encounters caves with Byzantine and post‑Byzantine hermitages, such as Panagia Makrini and Kakoperatiani. The best‑known ascent to Vigla starts from Marathokampos, passing the Monastery of the Annunciation and the chapel of Prophet Elias before reaching the summit with its unparalleled panoramic view. With its wild beauty and majestic landscape, Kerkis is a unique monument of Samos’s nature and history.